Aster plant named ‘X Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Aster  named ‘X Pink’ that is characterized by its inflorescences that are fully double and pink in color and its compact plant habit.

Botanical classification: Aster alpinus.

Variety denomination: ‘X Pink’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filed for plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitled Aster Plant Named ‘X Blue’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/999,174) and Aster Plant Named ‘X White’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/999,175).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aster alpinus, botanically known as Aster ‘X Pink’, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘X Pink’. ‘X Pink’ is a new herbaceous perennial suitable for use as a landscape and container plant.

The new invention arose from an ongoing controlled breeding program by the Inventor in Vleuten, The Netherlands. The objectives of the breeding program are to develop new cultivars of Aster alpinus with compact habits and double flowers.

‘X Pink’ derived from open pollination in May of 2010 of an unnamed and unpatented plant of Aster alpinus from the Inventor's breeding program, reference no. 1001-02 (not patented), as the female parent. ‘X Pink’ was selected in June of 2012 as a single unique plant amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by cuttings in Noordwijk, The Netherlands in August of 2012 under the direction of the Inventor. Asexual propagation by tissue culture using meristem tissue and stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘X Pink’ as a new and unique cultivar of Aster.

-   -   1. ‘X Pink’ exhibits inflorescences that are fully double and         pink in color.     -   2. ‘X Pink’ exhibits a compact plant habit.

The female parent of ‘X Pink’, reference no. 1001-02, differs from ‘X Pink’ in having a shorter plant height and a less vigorous growth habit. ‘X Pink’ can also be compared to the co-pending Aster cultivars ‘X Blue’ and ‘X White’. Both ‘X Blue’ and ‘X White’ are similar to ‘X White’ in having double inflorescences. ‘X Blue’ differs from ‘X Pink’ in having more branches, stems that are shorter in length, in having inflorescences that are purple-blue in color and in having disc florets that are shorter in length. ‘X White’ is similar to ‘X Pink’ in having double inflorescences. ‘X White’ differs from ‘X Pink’ in having inflorescences that are white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar. The photographs were taken of a plant 20 weeks in age grown in a 23-cm container (with 5 plugs) in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of ‘X Pink’ in bloom.

FIG. 2 provides a view of an inflorescence of ‘X Pink’.

FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘X Pink’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with digital photography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Aster.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of plants 20 weeks in age as grown in 23-cm containers (with 5 plugs) in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming season.—From May to June in The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright mound.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches a height and spread of 30 cm.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.         -   Diseases resistance.—No resistance or susceptibility to             diseases has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and 158D in color.         -   Root development.—A rooted tissue culture plantlet will             fully root in a 4-cm liner in 6 to 8 weeks.         -   Propagation.—Tissue culture from meristem tissue and stem             cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—Young stems 144A to 144B, older stems 200A.         -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy and moderately covered with             short soft adpressed hairs; an average of 0.5 mm and 157D in             color.         -   Stem size.—12.2 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter.         -   Stem aspect.—Held at an average angle of 67.5° to soil             level, varying between 45° and 90°.         -   Branching habit.—Average of 50 branches from base.         -   Branch internode length.—1.3 cm in length. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf shape.—Narrow oblanceolate.         -   Leaf base.—Long and narrow cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire and moderately covered with very short             strigose hairs; an average of 0.5 mm in length and NN155D in             color.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface 144C, lower surface             144B.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 8 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces slightly glossy, slightly rough             to the touch and covered with very short hairs; an average             of 0.3 mm in length and to small to measure with RHS-CC.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137B, young lower surface;             138A, mature upper surface; N137C, mature lower surface;             137C.         -   Leaf size (fully expanded).—Average of 5.2 cm in length and             8 mm in width. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Capitulum, 1 per lateral stem.         -   Lastingness of individual capitulum.—Temperature dependent,             typically last 4 to 5 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Quantity of capitulum.—About 50 per plant.         -   Capitulum buds.—Average of 1.3 cm in length and 8 mm in             diameter, ovate in shape, color; 138B, base 1458, apex 75C             to 75D, surface is glabrous with base pubescent.         -   Capitulum size.—About 5.3 cm in diameter and 2.4 cm in             depth, disk is an average of 2.7 cm in diameter.         -   Peduncle.—Terminal peduncle held straight on top of stem,             moderate strength, 5.3 cm in length and 3 mm in width, 138B             in color, surface densely covered with short soft adpressed             hairs; an average of 0.5 mm in length and 157D in color.         -   Involucral bracts.—Average of 45 per inflorescence, placed             spirally in three rows, lanceolate, entire margins, acute             apex, cuneate base, 8 mm in length and 0.02 mm in width,             upper and lower surface covered with very short pubescence             0.3 mm in length and 157D in color, upper surface color;             138B to 138C, lower surface color; 138A to 138B. -   Ray florets (pistillate):     -   -   Number.—Average of 88 per inflorescence.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—An average angle of 30° (0° horizontal), apex             pointed downward in an average angle of 20°.         -   Size.—Average of 2.5 cm in length and 3 mm in width.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Surface.—Both sides glabrous, upper side velvety, lower side             glossy, base is covered with an average of 25 hairs, 5 mm in             length and 150D in color.         -   Color.—When opening upper and lower surface; 75B, when fully             open upper surface; 75B, when fully open lower surface; 75A. -   Disk florets (perfect):     -   -   Quantity.—Average of 110 per inflorescence.         -   Shape.—Tubular with an average of 4 free tips, spirally             placed on disc, lower 80% fused into a tube, free lobes with             acute tips.         -   Surface.—Both surfaces glabrous and moderately glossy, base             is covered with an average of 25 hairs, 5 mm in length and             150D in color.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Size.—About 1.4 cm in length and 5 mm in width.         -   Color.—When opening and upper and lower surface; free tips             154B, mid-section 186B, base between 154C and 144D, when             fully open upper and lower surface; free tips 75B,             mid-section 75C and tinged with 186C to 186D, base 144C.         -   Spines.—Not present. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Presence.—Disk florets are perfect, ray florets are             carpellate.         -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, stigma cleft, 2 to 3 parted and             decurrent, style is 5 mm in length and 145D in color, ovary             is 145B.         -   Androecium.—5 stamens, anther is linear in shape, 13A in             color and 2 mm in length, filament is 5 mm in length and             145A in color, pollen is moderate in quantity and 13A in             color.         -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aster plant named ‘X Pink’ as described and illustrated herein. 